Optimization of prefabricated component installation using a real-time evaluator (RTE) connection locating system

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Prefabrication promises to industrialize the construction industry. By constructing elements within a manufacturing environment, producers can better control quality and maximize production efficiency. Since the major adoption of prefabrication, a wide variety of prefabricated components have been produced for varying applications such as new construction and exterior wall retrofits. While the production processes of these prefabricated components have seen much innovation, the installation process has remained relatively unchanged for decades. To innovate the installation process with modern technologies, a real-time evaluator (RTE) has been developed to reduce the installation cost of prefabricated components by reducing installation time, decreasing rework, and improving accuracy. The RTE uses developed software solutions with off-the-shelf hardware to assist erectors in completing an installation by measuring the real-time positions of connections and prefabricated components, providing installation guidance through a graphical user interface, and monitoring the accumulated installation errors. An overview of the RTE and proposed workflow is presented. A connection locating system that guides users in expediting the installation of connections is introduced. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the accuracy improvement and time savings of the RTE in installing connections for prefabricated components. RTE enabled a time saving of up to 37% compared to traditional connection installation methods using handheld measurement tools.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 41st International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, ISARC 2024
PublisherInternational Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC)
Pages65-72
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9780645832211
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024
Event41st International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, ISARC 2024 - Lille, France
Duration: Jun 3 2024Jun 5 2024

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction
ISSN (Electronic)2413-5844

Conference

Conference41st International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, ISARC 2024
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityLille
Period06/3/2406/5/24

Funding

This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE). The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (https://www.energy.gov/doe-public-access-plan). This research was supported by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Building Technologies Office, under the guidance of Sven Mumme, and used resources at the Building Technologies Research and Integration Center (BTRIC), a DOE-EERE User Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Keywords

  • accuracy
  • automation
  • installation
  • prefabrication
  • real-time
  • time

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